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Tuesday, May 16, 2017

IRS execs: Our lives at risk in tea party case

Details about tea party bias claims against the IRS could remain secret because current and former agency officials say their lives are in danger if they publicly testify about the case.

Lois Lerner and Holly Paz both have argued in recent court filings that the threat to their lives outweighs the public's right to hear their testimony about how IRS employees in Cincinnati and Washington D.C. handled applications for tax-exempt status from tea party groups.

They recently filed evidence to support their claim under seal in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati. Though that evidence has not been made public, court records indicate it relates to death threats and other harassment the women say they endured after their names were connected to the bias claims against the IRS several years ago.

"This documentation, as the court will see, makes very personal references and contains graphic, profane and disturbing language that would lead to unnecessary intrusion and embarrassment if made public," their attorneys argued in a recent court brief. "Public dissemination of their deposition testimony would put their lives in serious jeopardy."

Attorneys for the tea party groups suing the IRS say the argument against full disclosure doesn't hold up. They asked the court Wednesday to make the IRS officials' testimony public and to also open a May 19 hearing to the public.

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13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Witness protection is an option. Not testifying isn't.

Anonymous said...

They made their beds when they decided to abuse the power of their office

Anonymous said...

They are not in danger from tea party - they are scared of Democrat party!

Anonymous said...

Scum of the earth - that entire agency needs to be abolished!

Anonymous said...

They are afraid of the Clintons.

Anonymous said...

So they should walk around free? No way! Lerner belongs in jail and so does John Koskinen. By the way, wonder what ever happened to his impeachment proceedings?

Anonymous said...

When will this country realize that Obama was at the top of all this crap , he tried to destroy the country from within . He had Muslims and females at the
top . Nobody would suspect a female communist like Learner , Waters and many other bitches (dogs).

Jim said...

12:11 hits it square. They made their own beds.

Anonymous said...

I think some jail time is in order. Damages should also be paid in law suits that are pending as a result of this.

Anonymous said...

Lerner was and is an unrepentant tool of the Obama administration and the Democratic Party; members of both fear that the truth will win out. They should embrace it and cleanse their souls and clear their books.

Anonymous said...

They are scared of the "shadow government" mafia.

Anonymous said...

Lerner is guilty of wrongdoing and needs to be spending time in prison, along with anyone else involved in the misdeeds targeting conservatives.

Anonymous said...


Tough toenails. Let the chips fall. Need to testify, be indicted, jailed.